Jonathan remembered only moments from that point. Alphonse was next to him, in a dark space. There was the deep rumble of a strong engine being put to the test.

“You’re going to be okay… You’re going to be okay,” Jonathan heard the vampire’s deep voice, almost disembodied. He was speaking in gentle, soothing tones.

The next, the vampire was talking to someone else, maybe on the phone? Jonathan couldn’t make out the words.

Everything was ...